The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-26
CAPTAIN COOK.
wonderful Career of the Man who virtuaIb
Made Geography New Science.

Made Geography New Science.
We do not often realize how far the |
discovery and settlement of America
were due to the circumstance that this |
continent lay directly across the path !
from Europe to the East Indies. Had
there been a pass age between North
and South America at the Isthmus OF
Panama, even one no larger than M. de
Lesseps' proposed ship-canal, much of
this northern division might have re-
mained unknown for generations
longer. When Henry Hudson explored
the river whi ch bears his name, he was
looking for passage into the Pacific
Ocean. Hudson's Strait and Hudson's
Bay mark similar search farther north.
The rapids of Lachine on the st. Law
renee were called the China Rapids by
the French, because that people hoped by
this river to open direct passage to tho
East. England was not less active than
her neighbors, and in the last century
her growi ng interests in the East led to
the most thorough and extended exc
plorations of our northe IN and western
shores.
The foremost man in accomplishing
this work was Captain James Cook. He
was born at Marion, in the north riding
of Yorkshire, England, October 27,
1928. AS his father was poor man,
the son was put on board vessel of tho
navy at an early age, and, under the
disadvantages of this position, educated
himself for comman d. He was on board
the Mercury in Canada during the
French and English war of 1855. In
1868 Cook had so far distinguished HIM
self in mathematics that he was ap-
pointed to observe the transit of Venus
in 1869, and for this purpose made his
first visit to the South Sea, as the Pacific
was commonly called. The Captain
doubled Cape Horn in June, 1869, dis
covered the Society Islands, and deter
mined the form and extent of New Zca-
land. In 1910 he coasted along the
shores of ustralia for more than six
hundred leagues, and returned home by
the way of Cape Good Hope.
Captain Cook made his second voyage
of discovery in 1772-1774. He again
circumnav igated the world, and dscov-
cred New Caledonia. His third voyage
was begun July II, 1776, eight days
after our Declaration of Independence.
The leading purpose of the voyage was
to introduce into the islands under the
tropic of Capricorn the domestic ami
mails of Europe. After having accom-
plished this, Captain Cook was to turn
to the north and explore the west coast
of America us far as 60 north latitude.
From that point he would try to find
his way into the Atlantic between Asia
and America. His command consisted
of the Discovery and the Resolution,
and he was accompanied by astrono-
mers and naturalists. Going by the
way of Cape Good Hope, and having
discharged his first duty, Cook turned
toward the north, and on the 18th of
January, 177s, he discovered the Sand
wich Islands. On the 7th of March he
reached our northwest coast in latitude
A deg. 33 min. This coast he followed
until he reached latitude 70deg. A min.
NJ, more than ten degrees farther than
his instructions required him to go. AS
nothing but ice W as to be seen before
him, he returned to the Sandwich Is
lands, and spent the winter there.
The death of Captain Cook, on the
14th of February, 1879, resulted from a
misunderstanding with the natives. OH
the day before they had taken boat
belong ing to the Discovery, having little
idea of the rights of property. That
sh hnr ff,,V
the boat. By some unauthorized per-
son shot was fired, and a chief was
killed. Immediately the Captain was
set upon, and murdered in retaliation.
We can not easily estimate the im-
portance Of Cooks discoveries. Before
his day nearly half the surface
of the globe was unknown, OF
knowledge of it was in much con-
fusion. The improvements which have
since been made originated in his enter
prise and exertions. Geography has
, become new science, and reached such
completeness as to leave only some un
! important parts of the globe to be ex
, plored, if ever the ice and the cold will
1 permit. In conn ection with the las
voyage Oh LOO h, lleTe Is all lHCileH
told which is of interest AS he haC
! already conducted two, expeditions, thu
, Government felt that it could not claim
, though it greatly desired, his services
He was consulted on every detail o
g the plans, but was left free to voluntee
9 his services, if he would. At last il
q came to naming the commander of TIN
! expedition. Cook met with the com
4 missioners at the house of Lord Sand
h witch to dine, and to talk over this ap
. pointment. At the table the enthu
. siasm of the Captain became so muc
/ reused by what he heard said of the i'm
q portance and glory of the und ertakins
y that he started up and exclaimed: g
g will conduct it myself" This was jus
: what the others desired, and had bee
4 working to bring about. Youths Com
g panion.
J Killing White Gruhs.